May 24, 2023

Reschenthaler and Fogel Family to President Biden: Prioritize Marc Fogel’s Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) met with family members of Marc Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania currently imprisoned in Russia, to discuss the next steps in their effort to secure his release.
 
“In the two years since Marc Fogel’s arrest, the Biden Administration has failed to classify him as wrongfully detained or take any meaningful steps to secure his release — all while refusing to explain its inaction to his family or Congress,” said Reschenthaler. “The White House must prioritize a history teacher just as highly as Brittney Griner, a celebrity basketball player, in its efforts to secure the release of Americans wrongfully imprisoned in Russia. I remain committed to fighting for Marc Fogel’s freedom and ensuring everyday Americans are never forgotten or left behind.”
 
“My brother Marc and our family are thankful for Congressman Reschenthaler’s consistent efforts to bring attention to Marc which include him engaging other key Members and Senators to bring Marc home,” said Anne Fogel, sister of Marc Fogel. “Marc has been wrongfully detained, and it is important that our government acknowledge that, just as they have for Paul Whelan, Brittney Griner, and Evan Gershkovich. Congressman Reschenthaler’s commitment to this cause has given hope to Marc, a teacher and just a regular person, who has felt forgotten by his country.”
 
“Marc must be designated as wrongfully detained,” said Malphine Fogel, mother of Marc Fogel. “I am 93 years old, and I have not seen my son for two years. Marc is not healthy, and after three failed back surgeries, he chose to forgo opioids and instead use medically prescribed marijuana. He had no understanding of where this choice would lead. Our country must stand by him and protect him as he has always proudly stood by America and taught and protected its children abroad. My greatest wish is to see my son again. Meeting Congressman Reschenthaler and understanding his determination on behalf of Marc inspired me and has given me hope that I will have time with Marc again, and I am thankful for that inspiration.”
 
“It was very meaningful to meet with Congressman Reschenthaler and the Fogel family and work to bring IUP alumnus Marc Fogel home from prison in Russia,” said Dr. Michael Driscoll, president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, who also attended the meeting. “Marc has been confined for two years. The Administration has refused to designate him as wrongfully detained while expediting others under similar circumstances. The United States must do right by Marc, as he has served America by teaching many of its children during his over 35-year career as an educator. It was heartening to witness IUP’s Congressman Reschenthaler’s personal generosity and compassion to Marc’s mother and sister while he unflinchingly leads the charge in Congress. On behalf of myself and IUP, I thank him.”
 
Background on Marc Fogel:
  • Marc Fogel, a Butler, Pennsylvania native, taught history courses at schools attended by children of U.S. diplomats in Colombia, Venezuela, Oman, Malaysia, and, for the last 10 years, in Russia.
  • Fogel was detained on August 14, 2021, and is serving a 14-year hard-labor sentence for possession of medical marijuana used to treat his severe back injury, a charge very similar to that of WNBA player Brittney Griner.
  • Under federal law, Fogel meets at least six of the eleven established criteria to be designated as wrongfully detained by the State Department. He has yet to be classified as wrongfully detained. Griner was designated in less than three months after her arrest.
  • On December 8, 2022, Griner was released from Russian prison via a prisoner swap for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death.” Fogel remains in a Russian penal colony serving his sentence. 
Reschenthaler Efforts:
  • On August 3, 2022, Reschenthaler led a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the State Department to immediately classify Marc Fogel as wrongfully detained due to the extreme similarity to Brittney Griner’s case.
  • On October 31, 2022, Reschenthaler led a bipartisan letter to Secretary Blinken demanding the State Department prioritize securing Fogel’s release.
  • On November 3, 2022, Reschenthaler introduced a resolution of inquiry directing President Biden and Secretary Blinken to provide the U.S. House of Representatives with copies of all documents relating to the State Department’s review of the statutory criteria for Fogel to be designated as wrongfully detained.
  • On February 15, 2023, Reschenthaler and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul led a letter to Secretary Blinken expressing serious concern that the State Department has failed to provide information on why Fogel has not been classified as wrongfully detained.